the peaceable issue of the adventure,
which he had overheard; but, that he might not be exposed to such
inconvenience for the future, they resolved, that a grate should be
fixed in the middle of the outward door, through which the conjurer
himself might reconnoitre all the visitants, before their admission; so
that, to those whose appearance he might not like, Hadgi should, without
opening, give notice, that his master was engaged. By this expedient
too, they provided against those difficulties which Cadwallader must
have encountered, in giving satisfaction to strangers, whom he did not
know: for the original intention of the founders was to confine the
practice of their art to people of fashion only, most of whom were
personally known to the counterfeit magician and his coadjutors.

Indeed these associates, Cadwallader in particular, notwithstanding his
boasted insight into the characters of life, never imagined that his
pretended skill would be consulted by any but the weaker-minded of
the female sex, incited by that spirit of curiosity which he knew was
implanted in their nature; but, in the course of his practice, he found
himself cultivated in his preternatural capacity by people of all sexes,
complexions, and degrees of reputation, and had occasion to observe,
that, when the passions are concerned, howsoever cool, cautious, and
deliberate the disposition may otherwise be, there is nothing so idle,
frivolous, or absurd, to which they will not apply for encouragement
and gratification. The last occurrence, according to the hopes and
expectation of the confederates, was whispered about by the ladies
concerned, in such a manner, that the whole affair was in a few days the
universal topic of discourse, in which it was retailed with numberless
embellishments, invented by the parties themselves, who had long
indulged a pique at each other, and took this opportunity of enjoying
their revenge.

These incidents, while they regaled the spleen, at the same time
augmented the renown of the conjurer, who was described on both sides as
a very extraordinary person in his way; and the alteration in his door
was no sooner performed, than he had occasion to avail himself of it,
against the intrusion of a great many, with whom he would have found it
very difficult to support the fame he had acquired.

Among those who appeared at his grate, he perceived a certain clergyman,
whom he had long known a humble attendant on the great, an